Multiple-cylinder engine.



No. 821,546. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906.

H. E. SMALLBONE.

MULTIPLE GYLIN DER ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10. 1905.

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PATENTED MAY 22, "1906'.

H. E. SMALLBONB.

MULTIPLE CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 10. 1905.

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H. B. SMALLBONE.

MULTIPLE CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APRJO. 1905.

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H. E. SMALLBONE. MULTIPLE CYLINDER ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APB..10. 1905.

HARRY E. SMALLBONE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. I MULTIPLE-CYLINDER ENGINE.

- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed April 10, 1905. Serial No. 254,75 7.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, HARRY E. SMALLBONE, a cltlzen of the United States, residing at Clncago, in the county of Cook and State of Illmois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Multiple-Cylinder Engines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvement in mult1ple-cylinder gas-engines, my object be- 1 ng to provide a construction which will be light and compact compared with its horsepower capacity and particularly well balanced to render it free or approximately free from vibrations when running at high speed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a brokenview showing a longitudinal section of a gas-engine constructed with my improvements; Fig. 2, a cross-section through the gas inlet and exhaust valves on line 2 in Fig. 1 Fig. 3, an enlarged broken partly-sectional fragmental view, the section being taken on line 3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a section taken on line 4 in Fig. 1; Fig. 5, an enlarged section taken on line 5 in Fig. 1, illustrating 1mproved contact mechanism for actuating the sparkers; Fig. 5*, 'a broken sectional view illustrating the relative positions of the sparker contact-springs; Fig. 5 a side elevation of a roller-carrying ring Fig. 6, a broken plan view of one end portion of the engine; Fig. 7, a section taken on line 7 in Fig. 1, showing details of governor mechanism; Fig. 8, a broken view illustrative of the pistons, piston-stems, and their driving connection with the crank-shaft; Fig. 9, a broken and enlarged partly-sectional view illustrating further details of the engine governor mechanism, the sect-ion being taken on line 9 in Fig. 1; Fig.10, an enlarged broken view, in the nature of a diagram, of cam and plungeropening means for the exhaust-valves," and Fig. 11, a section taken on line 11 in Fig. 10.

The stationary parts of the engine are bolted or otherwise secured on a suitable supportingframe A.

B is a cylinder-head plate, to which are secured four cylinders C, having ports a through the head B. The cylinders are constructed with suitable water-jackets, as indicated. Working in the cylinders respectively are the pistons C C C C, to which are secured piston-stems b by ball-andsocket connections, as illustrated. The cylinders at the ends opposite the head-plate B are fastened to an intermediate casing D and carry a centrally-bushed journal-bearing D for the inner end of a'rotary'shaft E, provided with a counterbalanced crank E in the intermediate casing. Fastened against the intermediate casing D is an end casing F formed in its end wall with an internallythreaded inwardly-extending hollow boss F, fitted with a sectional ball-socket F constructed as indicated in Fi G is a gyratory shaft journaled at one end portion 0 in the crank E and formed at its opposite end with a ball (I, journaled in the ba l-socket device or bearing F H is a wabbling frame consisting of an outer ring portion e, Fig. 4, and a frusto-conical center f, formed with a central hub g, fitting around the shaft G between a collar 7L and nut h thereon. The ring portion e is formed with four-ball sockets c' equidistance apart and forming bearings, as shown, for the ball ends I) of the piston-stems b. On diametrically opposite edges of the wabbling frame H are studs 7c, surrounded by slideblocks 7c, movable between-stationary segmental guides Zin the casing F. v I

I In operation when the motive fluid enters the port a of a cylinder it drives the piston therein in the direction away the head B, causing its stem 6 to thrust against the wabbling frame and rock the latter in the guides Z on the pivot formed by the ball-andsocket joint d F. The motive fluid is di-' rected into the cylinders successively and exhausted therefrom in the same manner, whereby while one piston is being forced outward by the fluid the wabbling frame forces the diametrically opposite piston inward to exhaust the cylinder. In this Way the shaft G is given gyratory motion, turning the crank E, and consequently the shaft E. The explosions are caused to take place successively 1n the successive cylinders, and in the construction illustrated an explosion will take place in each cylinder once in every second revolution of the shaft, whereby the latter is driven normally by two explosions in each of its revolutions.

Fastened against the cylinder-head plate B are four casings or thelike I I I I which may be constructed as shown. Each casing has an inlet-chaniberm, connecting witha gassupply pipe n, an exhaust-chamber p, open to the atmosphere, and a central chamber g, cornmunicating with the respective port a. In the chamber 9 and seating in the direction of the inlet-chamber m is an induction-valve r on a stem 1" and normally closed by a light spring 1. Seating to close communication between chambers 91 p in each said casing IS an exhaust or eduction valve 8 on a stem s, extending through a guide 8 end portion of the stem .9 is a spring 8 ing normally to close the exhaust-valve, and the stem at its end fits loosely in a plungerblock t, having an antifriction roller or pro jection t. Entering the chambers g are elec tric spark-plugs v.

The frame A is formed with a fournal-bearing A E, as indicated, and surrounding the shaft and confined between the said bearing and a collar to on the shaft is an independently-rotating half the speed of the shaft E through gearing comprising a gear-wheel a; on the shaft E, meshing with a gear-wheel as of the same size on acounter-shaft journaled in the frame and carrying a pinion x meshing with a gearwheel L of twice its size keyed to the sleeve K. Formed upon the sleeve K adjacent to the collar w are four cams y y 3 if, staggered to extend in the relative positions indicated in Figs. 10 and 11. The rollers t on the plungerst are staggered to extend, respectively, in adjacent vertical planes corresponding with the planes, respectively, with which they are caused to contact under pressure of the stems 8. Thus, for example, the plunger-roller at the casingIis adapted to be engaged by the cam y, the plunger-roller at the casing I is adapted to be engaged by the cam y, the plunger-roller at the casing I by the cam g and the plunger-roller at the casing I by the cam 31*, the said cams operating in the turning of the sleeve to open the exhaust-valves s.

The parts are so constructed and timed with relation to each other that in the first outstroke of a piston it sucks in the explosive gas mixture through its inlet-valve 1*, its ex haust-valve being closed at the time. In the next succeeding instroke of the piston it compresses the gas, and at the end of said instroke the sparker is actuated, by means, for example, ashereinafter described, to ignite the mixture and produce the explosion, which drives the piston-upon its second outstroke. As the piston starts upon the next instroke the exhaust-valve is opened by the respec. tive cam on the rotating sleeve K, permitting the piston to clean out the cylinder. The steps of these operations occur successively in the successive cylinders in one direction or the other, depending upon the direction in which it is desired to rotate the shaft E. The plunger-blocks if being loose upon the stems s relieves the latter from lateral strain in the movement of the valve-opening cams t.

Mounted upon the hearing A is a stationary flanged disk M, havin the four bindingposts 12 wired to a suita is electric battery or other generator and having inward-exfor the outer end portion of the shaft sleeve K. The sleeve is rotated at of the cams y y 'y y tending contact screws or points 13. Mounted in the disk M are four contact-springs 14, normally out of engagement with the screws On the outer 1 13 and connected, respectively, with the retendl spective sparkers v.

The contact-springs are provided with cam-shaped ends 15, relatively staggered to extend in adjacent vertical planes after the manner of the cams y y 'y y described. Mounted in aring N on the sleeve K are staggered shoulders or rollers N, extending in adj acentverti cal planes and located with relation to each other as indicated in Figs. 5 5 Each one of the series of rollers N is in position to engage one only of the series of staggered spring-contacts 14 during the rotation of the sleeve to press the respective spring against its companion contact-screw 13 to close the circuit to the respective sparker, the parts being so arranged with relation to each other that the sparking will be produced thereby in the successive cylinders at the proper times.

On each of the plunger-blocks t is a shoulder or pin 16, having a flaring head, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 9. The pins pass through elongated slots 17 in the casings to slide therein in the movements of the plungers.

The pins are of successively-increasing lengths, as indicated, to project at their flaring ends in successive vertical planes. Surrounding the sleeve K is a longitudinallysliding sleeve P, located between the gearwheel L and the said casings. The. sleeve is formed with an annular groove 18 and with an end disk or stop 19, having a sharpened annular circumferential edge. Fulcrumed at 20 on the frame; Fig. 6, is a lever 21, hav- -ing a bifurcated end carrying studs 22, en-

gaging the groove 18. A spring 23 draws the lever in the direction of holding the disk 19 away from the pins 16. 24 24 are bell- ,crank levers pivotally mounted upon the gear-wheel L, with weighted arms passing through openings 25 in the wheel and bifurcated overlapping arms 26, as shown in Figs. land 7. The arms 26 where they overlap bear normally a ainst the ends of the pins 27, Fig. 9, gassing t ough guide-openings in the gear-w eel and fastened to the sliding sleeve P. Springs 28 tend normally to draw the weighted arms of the bell-crank levers to-' ward each other.

In the rotation of the gear L and sleeve K the tendency is for the weighted arms of the governor to be thrown outward by centrifugal force against the resistance of the springs 28 to force the pins 27 and sleeve P along against the resistance of the spring 23. The springs are tensioned to so regulate the governor mechanism that the disk 19 will be held away from the pins 16 when the engine is running at or below the speed desired. When the speed increases, the governorarms or bell-crank levers 24 will be thrown out to move the sleeve 1? and cause the disk 19 to enter the path of the longest in 16. The pin and the plunger to which t e said pin is attached are thus stopped by the disk while moving radially inward and held thereby to hold the respective exhaust-valve in open position. This, as will be readily understood, throws the respective cylinder out of action, whereby it will not suck in gas and explosions therein are stopped. If the speed of the engine increases, the disk will be moved to the path of the next longest pin 16,

thereby throwing a second cylinder out of action, and so on, until as speed increases all of the cylinders may be thrown out of action. As the speed of the engine decreases the governor mechanism willmove the disk 19 in the reverse direction, thus throwing the cylinders successively into action.

It will be readily understood that so far as the cylinders, shaft, pistons, and gyratory connection between the pistons and shaft are concerned the engine might beconstructed with a stationary shaft or support and with cylinders rotating around the shaft or support.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a multiple-cylinder gas-engine, the combination of bodies one rotatable with relation to the other and consisting, respectively, of a central shaft and a series of piston-cylinders around the shaft, cylinder-exhaust valves, a sleeve on the shaft controlling the gasignition and exhaust of all the cylinders, driving means for the sleeve turning it at half the speed of the said rotating body, and governing mechanism on the sleeve movable into and out of the path of closing movement of the exhaust-valves.

' 2. In a multiple-cylinder gas-engine, the combination with a central shaft and series of cylinders about the shaft having exhaustports, of spring-closed puppet-valves governing said ports and having stems, rotary, exhaust-valve-opening cams around the shaft in staggered relation, loose plungerblocks on the stems, and staggered cam-engaging projections on the blocks in the paths of the respective cams.

3. In a multiple-cylinder gas-engine, the

combination with a central shaft and series of cylinders about the shaft having exhaustports, of spring-closed puppet-valves governing said ports and having stems, rotary, exhaust-valve-opening cams around the shaft in staggered relation, loose plunger-blocks on the stems, staggered cam-engaging projections on the blocks in the paths of the respective cams, a shoulder on each plunger-block, the shoulders being respectively of different lengths, a governor, a sliding disk about the shaft connected with the governor and movable into the paths of said shoulders, thereby to hold the exhaust-valves open.

4. In a multiple-cylinder gas-engine, th combination of bodies, one rotatable with relation to the other and consisting, respec tively, of a central shaft and series of cylinders around the shaft having exhaust-ports, a sleeve on the shaft controlling the gas ignition of all the cylinders, driving means for the sleeve turning it at half the speed of the said rotating body, exhaust-ports in the cylinders, spring-closed puppet-valves governing said ports and having stems, rotary exhaustvalve-opening cams on the said sleeve in staggered relation, loose plunger-blocks on the stems, and staggered cam-engaging projections on the blocks in the paths of the respective cams.

5. In a multi le-cylinder gas-engine, the combination wit a central shaft and a series of cylinders about the shaft having exhaustports, of spring-closed puppet-valves governing said ports and having stems, rotary, exhaust-valve-opening cams around the shaft for moving said stems and opening the valves, shoulders movable with said stems, the shoulders at the respective stems being of diflerent lengths, a governor, a sliding disk about the shaft operatively connected with the governor and movable into the paths of said shoulders, thereby to hold the exhaustvalves open, and a return-spring for thesliding disk acting counter to the governor mechanism.

HARRY E. SMALLBONE. In presence of A. U. THORIEN,

J. H. LANDES. 

